'' was an
American Television Dramedy created by
David E. Kelley , with
Calista Flockhart in the title role as a young
Lawyer working in a
Fiction al
Boston law firm named Cage & Fish, filled with similarly young lawyers whose lives and loves are highly
Melodrama tic. The show ran on the
FOX network from
1997 to
2002 .
Despite its legal environment, the show pays minimal attention to the actual practice of law. Instead it focuses on the romantic and personal lives of the main characters, though sometimes using legal proceedings as plot devices to contrast or reinforce a character's drama. For example, bitter divorce litigation of a client might backdrop Ally's decision to break up with a boyfriend.
Particularly notable, the show frequently used vivid, dramatic fantasy visuals for a character's wishful thinking. Also, regular visits to a local, idealized
Bar where singer and cast member
Vonda Shepard regularly performed (though occasionally handing over the microphone to the characters). Each episode generally concluded on an upbeat, hopeful note with energetic music.
''Ally McBeal'' was hugely successful, but received much criticism from TV critics and
Feminist s who found the title character annoying and demeaning to women because of her excessive flightiness, lack of demonstrated legal knowledge, and extreme emotional instability. Flockhart's visible loss of weight by the second season also caused much media speculation.
However, Ally's search for true love struck a chord with young female audiences, and the
Eccentric characters around her were developed further, giving the show firm footing.
In the fourth season,
Robert Downey Jr. joined the regular cast as Ally's boyfriend Larry, resurrecting the
Ratings of a show that had lost its novelty and thus much of its audience. However, when Downey was forced to leave as his (real life)
Drug Addiction caused him legal troubles, plus other central cast members such as
Lucy Liu also left, the ratings sank again. Not even guest appearances from
Matthew Perry and singer
Jon Bon Jovi and
Christina Ricci in season five were enough to save the show.
The major cast members of the show included:
Notable guest stars on the show included comedian
Tracey Ullman as Ally's unusual
Therapist , and singers
Barry White ,
Al Green ,
Sting ,
Tina Turner , and
Barry Manilow as themselves. Special musical guests included
KC And The Sunshine Band ,
Elton John and
Josh Groban .
Barry White's music was frequently showcased on the show as a sexual stimulant; when one of the characters mentally "heard" the music, other characters would be attracted. This action was often accompanied by dancing and took place in the unisex bathroom.
At the height of its popularity, re-edited half-hour versions of the show ran under the name ''Ally''.
The show is also noted by many for introducing the '
Dancing Baby '
Computer-generated Image (CGI) to mainstream American pop culture.
Known for controversial topics, the show was well-known for the infamous Cro-Magnon episode, whereby a well-endowed male model becomes the focus of the Ally's attentions. Some critics have claimed that this
Penis Size obsessed view of female sexuality is distorted and reflects more of a male point of view, as the show was written by
David E. Kelley . Others have charged that the ridiculing of modestly endowed men is sexist and harmful, contributing to body issues for men similar to that of young women over their weight. On that note as well, the show has been criticized for the "
Anorexic " main character as being a bad role model for girls.
Due to
Music Rights issues, Ally McBeal has not been made available on DVD in the United States, though it has been available in
Italy ,
Japan and
UK . However
Tvshowsondvd.com announced that Fox Home Entertainment had plans to release box sets of Ally Mcbeal on DVD in North America along with a number of other David E Kelley shows such as
Boston Legal and
The Practice .
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- Outstanding Comedy Series (1999)
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Peter MacNicol (2001)
- Best TV Series-Comedy/Musical (1998-1999)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series-Comedy/Musical Calista Flockhart (1998)
- Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series Robert Downey Jr. (2001)
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1999)
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Robert Downey Jr. (2001)
- Outstanding Comedy Series (1998)
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (1998-1999, 2001)
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Peter MacNicol (1999-2000)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Lucy Liu (1999)
- Best TV Series-Comedy/Musical (2000-2002)
- Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series-Comedy/Musical Calista Flockhart
- Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series Jane Krakowski (1999)
- Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1998, 2000-2001)
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Calista Flockhart (1998-2001)
- Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Lucy Liu (2000)
- Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Peter MacNicol (1999-2001)
